Primary schools in Hafnarfjörður welcome students for the new school year

The schools are filling with life!

The new school year begins in Hafnarfjörður on Monday, August 25th, 2025, with opening ceremonies in the town’s primary schools. Regular classes will follow on Tuesday, August 26th.

Quality education in Hafnarfjörður

Around 4,000 children and young people will attend the town’s primary schools this fall. Of these, more than 350 will begin their schooling for the first time in grade 1. Further details about schedules and opening times in each school can be found on the respective school’s website. Hafnarfjörður has 11 primary schools, 9 run by the municipality, while Barnaskóli Hjallastefnunnar and NÚ are privately operated. In addition, about 300–350 children from Hafnarfjörður attend primary school outside the town’s system, either in private schools, special schools, or schools in other municipalities.

Starting primary school is a big step in every child’s life. Cooperation between home and school is very important at such milestones. Favorable conditions for upbringing and good collaboration are key to ensuring that children and young people thrive in school and become aware of their strengths.

Quality meals in the primary schools

Children and staff in Hafnarfjörður’s preschools and primary schools receive quality meals at school. The municipality has signed an agreement with the company Í-mat for the coming years, providing food to all schools and after-school programs in the town. With this cooperation, Hafnarfjörður takes an important step toward a healthier nutrition environment for local children.

School lunches are free of charge and do not need to be ordered in advance. There will generally be two choices for lunch each day: meat or fish, or a vegetarian dish, with vegan options included when applicable. The choice is made on the spot rather than beforehand, which means one option may run out before the other on some days.

Parents can still choose whether their child brings their own morning snack to school or subscribes to the fruit service from Í-mat. Special diets remain available based on medical certificates for allergies or intolerances, and applications for these must be submitted through the Í-mat website with the necessary documentation.

Since these changes involve a new provider and large-scale adjustments, it may take some time to fully stabilize the process, and patience is requested during this initial phase.

School supplies for students

Hafnarfjörður will continue to provide educational materials free of charge to primary school students. However, students are now expected to bring their own stationery for daily use. The schools will still supply notebooks, folders, and other items needed for everyday schoolwork, in addition to textbooks.

Yes, there is excitement in the air. The children are settling into their routines, and life in Hafnarfjörður is beginning to take on the colors of autumn.